The European Union and Cape Verde enter into
a mobility partnership

Jacques Barrot, the Vice-President of the European
Commission responsible for justice, freedom and security, Louis Michel, the
Commissioner responsible for development policy, Dragutin Mate, the Slovenian
Minister for Home Affairs and Livio Fernandes Lopes, the Minister for Home
Affairs of the Republic of Cape Verde, today launched, in cooperation with the
appropriate ministers of the Member States concerned (Spain, France, Luxembourg
and Portugal) a mobility partnership between the European Union and Cape Verde,
by signing a Joint Declaration in the margins of the Justice and Home Affairs
Council.

Vice-President Barrot declared his support for such partnerships in the
following terms: "Through these mobility partnerships, the European Union is
taking practical steps towards managing migration in a coordinated and
responsible fashion, which should better equip both the Union and its partners
to meet the challenges posed by migration and to take full advantage of the
opportunities it offers".

Mr Michel, the Commissioner responsible for development policy,
declared,"In signing this Declaration, we are committing ourselves, together
with Cape Verde, to stepping up our dialogue and our cooperation in the field of
migration. I am thinking in particular of legal migration, strengthening the
link between migration and development and the fight against illegal
immigration. This Declaration is of great political significance. In initiating
this pilot mobility partnership, we are paving the way for joint management of
migration that is responsible, humane and beneficial to all."

Mobility partnerships, which are currently in a pilot phase, are new
instruments designed to give practical expression to the partnership between the
European Union and third countries so as to ensure the responsible joint
management of migratory flows in the interests of the Union, its partners and
the migrants themselves. Mobility partnerships should also be seen in the
context of the implementation of the Global Approach developed by the European
Union in the field of migration. The Republic of Cape Verde and the Republic of
Moldova are the first two countries with which the Union is entering into such a
commitment.

The partnership reflects Cape Verde's expectations, particularly as regards
facilitation short stay for its nationals on European Union territory, and those
of the European Union as regards combating illegal immigration and readmission.

The partnership provides for the setting up in Praia of a joint centre which
will accept applications for short-stay visas, promoting improvements in the
arrangements for the movement of people and legal migration, and building Cape
Verde's capacity to manage migration, notably by developing a centre designed to
implement measures for the information, integration and protection of migrants
and returnees. There are also plans to improve the efficiency of workers'
migration procedures and to develop job opportunities both in Cape Verde and
abroad.

The partnership also provides for initiatives to maximise the benefits of
migration for development and, in particular, to do more to enable the Cape
Verdian diaspora to contribute to the development of its country of origin,
notably by encouraging transfers of money and skills and facilitating circular
migration and/or return, so as to mitigate the impact of the emigration of
highly qualified individuals.

As regards combating illegal immigration, the partnership is designed to
combat illegal migration and trafficking in human beings and to strengthen
management of the borders and document security, notably by building Cape
Verde's capacity in the field of maritime security, the use of new information
and communication technologies and training in checking documents. Initiatives
relating to border controls should also be facilitated by the establishment of
an operational arrangement between Cape Verde and Frontex.

There will also be cooperation designed to help Cape Verde establish a system
of asylum in line with international standards.